Megaliths - Lesson Summary

Megaliths were huge stones erected to mark burial sites, used by people three thousand years back. This practice was common south India, Deccan, Kashmir and the north-east. The burial sites are both above and underground. Many distinctive articles were found buried with the body by the archaeologists in some megalithic burials.

Such remains indicate the buried people were herders and farmers as burying dad with food and equipment meant the entry in the next life. The type of burial reflects the status of the buried person. Brahmagiri and Adichanallur are some megalithic burial sites found in India.

Cist, is a type of megalith which is an arrangement of large stone slabs in a box-like structure used mainly for the underground megaliths.

Often there would be an opening in the centre, called the port-hole leading to the underground burial site. Many megalith burials have produced distinctive pots called Black and Red ware.

Certain megalith burials have revealed multiple skeletons, which indicate that the megalith people buried the family members in the same grave at times. The bodies were put in the existing graves through the port-holes and placed next to the skeletons.

Archaeologists have also found iron tools, weapons, horse skeletons, horse equipment, ornaments of gold and stone in various megalith burials. This shows that the ancient people believed in treating the dead with respect and providing them with enough tools and equipment to succeed in the afterlife.

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